I haven’t seen the documentary, but Carter’s description of it has definitely made me more curious. Football is often seen as a savior, a way for guys to “make it” and become successful men. It is, in effect, “a tempered prosperity gospel that can be summarized as ‘Be good and you’ll be blessed.’”

Of course, this leaves little to no room for grace. Indeed, football, much less any sport, can’t—on its own—make people noble or good. It can’t really save. Hard lessons to learn, but necessary ones if we want to understand why Jesus is the only real and true Savior.